Caring for Caregivers: Dealing with Medicare's Long-Term Coverage

In my last post I explored the potential impact of the federal government's recent resolution to hold Medicare Part B premiums stable for 2009. While the decision will be beneficial to many Medicare recipients requiring doctor visits and other outpatient services, most of the patients and their families dealing with the costs of long-term care will see no such respite. Long-term care has for a while been the "Achilles heel" of health care reform advocates, as it is often overlooked in favor of the far more prominent aspects of health care such as prescription drug costs and doctors' fees. Many credit this to the prevalent assumption among middle-class Americans that Medicare (and more specifically Medicaid, which oversees most of the long-term care coverage that is funded by the government) will provide for them in their later years, and therefore fail to seek out other options that might save them money in the long haul, such as long-term care insurance. This plea for greater consumer awareness is heard from across the political spectrum. In a blog post titled "USA: Long-term care often left out of talks on health care reform," Emily P. Walker quotes senior fellows at both libertarian and conservative think tanks acknowledging the increased responsibility Americans must assume over their long-term care needs.

This week I surveyed the blogosphere to get a feel for how others viewed the public's perception of long-term health care, and the amount of reliance placed on a government program that explicitly lacks the provisions of adequate coverage for all but the poorest Americans. The first blog post I looked at was on AgingCare.com, a popular and informative resource aimed at caregivers. A survey of caregivers they had conducted reveals an overwhelming lack of predictability and planning concerning how caregivers were going to pay for their parents' care needs in the years ahead, as well as statistics regarding the current impact of care financing in the day-to-day lives of caregivers. The second blog post I looked at was part of "The New Old Age" blog hosted by the New York Times. Author Jane Gross explores a new government-sponsored website offered through Medicare aimed at caregivers, specifically with the intention of directing those who do not qualify for aid to other resources that might help to fill in the gaps. In addition to posting my comments directly in these blogs, I have excerpted them below:

"Cost of Caring for Aging Parents Could be Next Financial Crisis"
Comment:

As someone who is very curious to see just how we as a country are going to deal with the increasing number of elderly Americans who need long-term care in the coming years, I would like to thank you for highlighting such an important issue that is so often overlooked by policy-makers and the public. Your survey emphasizes the vast numbers of caregivers in this country who are struggling to finance the costs of caring for their parents while maintaining happy and healthy families of their own. I was especially shocked to read the overwhelming percentage of caregivers who had to make substantial sacrifices in their own careers as a result of caregiving responsibilities. This phenomenon, combined with the increasing costs of personal caregiving and the lack of government support leaves little wonder as to why so many have minimal foresight into maintaining that care in the future. The emotional toll this compilation of stresses takes on caregivers is ominous for the mental and physical health of our country, perhaps soon leading to a health crisis of its own, in addition to that already faced by the millions of aging individuals who require such devoted care. As articles such as this one circulate beyond the all-too-aware caregivers who are personally familiar with such grim statistics, we can be hopeful that the government and health care reform advocates who work to improve its programs recognize the need for long-term care improvement within the framework of a larger health care overhaul. Until then, increased awareness from the American public regarding the burdens they too may one day face can only be a positive thing.

"Medicare Reaches Out to Caregivers"

Comment:

While it would be nice if the American public needed to look no further than Medicare/Medicaid to receive the assistance it requires when paying for the long-term care costs incurred by so many aging individuals and their families, the new website directing inquiring consumers to other resources should hopefully be a useful compromise while we wait for an extensive overhaul of the health care system. Caregivers and their advocates have long been familiar with the gaping holes left by the long-term health care coverage provided by the federal government, but have often remained uncertain of where exactly to turn for help. This website is a positive force, both for those who currently struggle to obtain the care information they need, as well as a possible signal of recognition of the burdens long-term care stands to place on the average American from Medicare officials. Perhaps in the near future administrators who are aware of the overwhelming financial strains incurred by long-term care--such as Kerry Weems--will be given the necessary platform to initiate legislative reform. Until then, the website will have to suffice. As for the specific content of the new website, I appreciate the inclusion of non-government sources such as AARP and the Alzheimer's Association, which have long been vital mainstays of support to caregivers. Until Medicare evolves to include a larger portion of American taxpayers, it is crucial that these embattled individuals receive all the assistance they can get, and a centralized hub of resources available will certainly help to do so.